MODIFICATION OF ELECTROCHEMICAL CARBON BY IN-SITU GENERATED CARBENES

A composite of electrochemical carbon with LiF was prepared by cathodi c defluorination of poly(tetrafluoroethylene). The extraction of LiF w as carried out in aprotic medium employing the acetonitriIe-BF3 adduct . The isolated carbon material was derivatized by three different carb enes: CH2\, PhCH\ (Ph = phenyl) and CF3(CH3)C\. The products were char acterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. Blank experiments give evidence that the addition of carbene proceeds selectively via t he polyyne linkages in electrochemical carbon. This allows us to estim ate the polyyne content in electrochemical carbon. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.